The first-ever independent scrutiny unit to cut red tape and free schools of bureaucracy has been launched by the government as part of its continuing effort to cut teacher workloads. It has also announced the implementation of plans to build on the experiences of a number of pathfinder schools which have been testing possible solutions to the problems.The Implementation Review Unit will involve front-line teachers and is seen as having an important role in implementing the national workforce agreement, tackling unnecessary paper work and helping teachers to focus on improving pupils’ learning.

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The government is accused today of failing to look at the root causes of inequality in housing. The Institute for Public Policy Research is arguing for bolder policies avoiding the mistakes of mass housing but tackling head-on those sections of the NIMBY lobby which put the loss of green field sites above social equality.It is launching a research project on housing and inequality today. It will be led by Chris Holmes, the former director of Shelter, who is now Visiting Research Fellow at the IPPR. The project aims to bring forward policy ideas that will shape a radical new approach to reducing inequity in housing.

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By Richard Berthoud The risk of unemployment for individuals without any disadvantage is about 4%. For the disadvantaged it varies between 50 and 90%. The author looks at the sources of disadvantage, outlines ways in which the risk of unemployment can be predicted and highlights the scope for policy initiatives.